skip to main content


Title: Cooperative Bond Activation and Facile Intramolecular Aryl Transfer of Nickel–Aluminum Pincer‐type Complexes
Abstract

Pincer‐type nickel–aluminum complexes were synthesized using two equivalents of the phosphinoamide, [PhNCH2PiPr2]. The Ni0–AlIIIcomplexes, {(MesPAlP)Ni}2(μ‐N2) and {(MesPAlP)Ni}2(μ‐COD), whereMesPAlP is (Mes)Al(NPhCH2PiPr2)2, were structurally characterized. The (PAlP)Ni system exhibited cooperative bond cleavage mediated by the two‐site Ni–Al unit, including oxidative addition of aryl halides, H2activation, and ortho‐directed C−H bond activation of pyridine N‐oxide. One intriguing reaction is the reversible intramolecular transfer of the mesityl ring from the Al to the Ni site, which is evocative of the transmetalation step during cross‐coupling catalysis. The aryl‐transfer product,(THF)Al(NPhCH2PiPr2)2Ni(Mes), is the first example of a first‐row transition metal–aluminyl pincer complex. The addition of a judicious donor enables the Al metalloligand to convert reversibly between the alane and aluminyl forms via aryl group transfer to and from Ni, respectively. Theoretical calculations support a zwitterionic Niδ−–Alδ+electronic structure in the nickel–aluminyl complex.

 
more » « less
NSF-PAR ID:
10233428
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  ;  
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Angewandte Chemie
Volume:
133
Issue:
27
ISSN:
0044-8249
Page Range / eLocation ID:
p. 15214-15221
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. Abstract

    Pincer‐type nickel–aluminum complexes were synthesized using two equivalents of the phosphinoamide, [PhNCH2PiPr2]. The Ni0–AlIIIcomplexes, {(MesPAlP)Ni}2(μ‐N2) and {(MesPAlP)Ni}2(μ‐COD), whereMesPAlP is (Mes)Al(NPhCH2PiPr2)2, were structurally characterized. The (PAlP)Ni system exhibited cooperative bond cleavage mediated by the two‐site Ni–Al unit, including oxidative addition of aryl halides, H2activation, and ortho‐directed C−H bond activation of pyridine N‐oxide. One intriguing reaction is the reversible intramolecular transfer of the mesityl ring from the Al to the Ni site, which is evocative of the transmetalation step during cross‐coupling catalysis. The aryl‐transfer product,(THF)Al(NPhCH2PiPr2)2Ni(Mes), is the first example of a first‐row transition metal–aluminyl pincer complex. The addition of a judicious donor enables the Al metalloligand to convert reversibly between the alane and aluminyl forms via aryl group transfer to and from Ni, respectively. Theoretical calculations support a zwitterionic Niδ−–Alδ+electronic structure in the nickel–aluminyl complex.

     
    more » « less
  2. Understanding H 2 binding and activation is important in the context of designing transition metal catalysts for many processes, including hydrogenation and the interconversion of H 2 with protons and electrons. This work reports the first thermodynamic and kinetic H 2 binding studies for an isostructural series of first-row metal complexes: NiML, where M = Al ( 1 ), Ga ( 2 ), and In ( 3 ), and L = [N( o -(NCH 2 P i Pr 2 )C 6 H 4 ) 3 ] 3− . Thermodynamic free energies (Δ G °) and free energies of activation (Δ G ‡ ) for binding equilibria were obtained via variable-temperature 31 P NMR studies and lineshape analysis. The supporting metal exerts a large influence on the thermodynamic favorability of both H 2 and N 2 binding to Ni, with Δ G ° values for H 2 binding found to span nearly the entire range of previous reports. The non-classical H 2 adduct, (η 2 -H 2 )NiInL ( 3 -H 2 ), was structurally characterized by single-crystal neutron diffraction—the first such study for a Ni(η 2 -H 2 ) complex or any d 10 M(η 2 -H 2 ) complex. UV-Vis studies and TD-DFT calculations identified specific electronic structure perturbations of the supporting metal which poise NiML complexes for small-molecule binding. ETS-NOCV calculations indicate that H 2 binding primarily occurs via H–H σ-donation to the Ni 4p z -based LUMO, which is proposed to become energetically accessible as the Ni(0)→M( iii ) dative interaction increases for the larger M( iii ) ions. Linear free-energy relationships are discussed, with the activation barrier for H 2 binding (Δ G ‡ ) found to decrease proportionally for more thermodynamically favorable equilibria. The Δ G ° values for H 2 and N 2 binding to NiML complexes were also found to be more exergonic for the larger M( iii ) ions. 
    more » « less
  3. Abstract

    The synthesis and characterization of (tBuPBP)Ni(OAc) (5) by insertion of carbon dioxide into the Ni−C bond of (tBuPBP)NiMe (1) is presented. An unexpected CO2cleavage process involving the formation of new B−O and Ni−CO bonds leads to the generation of a butterfly‐structured tetra‐nickel cluster (tBuPBOP)2Ni4(μ‐CO)2(6). Mechanistic investigation of this reaction indicates a reductive scission of CO2by O‐atom transfer to the boron atom via a cooperative nickel‐boron mechanism. The CO2activation reaction produces a three‐coordinate (tBuP2BO)Ni‐acyl intermediate (A) that leads to a (tBuP2BO)−NiIcomplex (B) via a likely radical pathway. The NiIspecies is trapped by treatment with the radical trap (2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐yl)oxyl (TEMPO) to give (tBuP2BO)NiII2‐TEMPO) (7). Additionally,13C and1H NMR spectroscopy analysis using13C‐enriched CO2provides information about the species involved in the CO2activation process.

     
    more » « less
  4. Abstract

    The synthesis and characterization of (tBuPBP)Ni(OAc) (5) by insertion of carbon dioxide into the Ni−C bond of (tBuPBP)NiMe (1) is presented. An unexpected CO2cleavage process involving the formation of new B−O and Ni−CO bonds leads to the generation of a butterfly‐structured tetra‐nickel cluster (tBuPBOP)2Ni4(μ‐CO)2(6). Mechanistic investigation of this reaction indicates a reductive scission of CO2by O‐atom transfer to the boron atom via a cooperative nickel‐boron mechanism. The CO2activation reaction produces a three‐coordinate (tBuP2BO)Ni‐acyl intermediate (A) that leads to a (tBuP2BO)−NiIcomplex (B) via a likely radical pathway. The NiIspecies is trapped by treatment with the radical trap (2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐yl)oxyl (TEMPO) to give (tBuP2BO)NiII2‐TEMPO) (7). Additionally,13C and1H NMR spectroscopy analysis using13C‐enriched CO2provides information about the species involved in the CO2activation process.

     
    more » « less
  5. Abstract

    Decarbonylation along with P‐atom transfer from the phosphaethynolate anion, PCO, to the NbIVcomplex [(PNP)NbCl2(NtBuAr)] (1) (PNP=N[2‐PiPr2‐4‐methylphenyl]2; Ar=3,5‐Me2C6H3) results in its coupling with one of the phosphine arms of the pincer ligand to produce a phosphanylidene phosphorane complex [(PNPP)NbCl(NtBuAr)] (2). Reduction of2with CoCp*2cleaves the P−P bond to form the first neutral and terminal phosphido complex of a group 5 transition metal, namely, [(PNP)Nb≡P(NtBuAr)] (3). Theoretical studies have been used to understand both the coupling of the P‐atom and the reductive cleavage of the P−P bond. Reaction of3with a two‐electron oxidant such as ethylene sulfide results in a diamagnetic sulfido complex having a P−P coupled ligand, namely [(PNPP)Nb=S(NtBuAr)] (4).

     
    more » « less